Hong “Grace” Peng, a former LAUSD technical project manager, and Gautham Sampath, owner of the tech firm Innive, are accused of orchestrating a years-long “pay-to-play” scheme that allegedly steered more than $22 million in school district contracts to Sampath\u2019s company.<\/p>\n
“This case involves a blatant abuse of public trust<\/a> \u2014 funneling taxpayer dollars intended for students into personal coffers,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n “This vendor, working with an LAUSD project manager, allegedly carried out a multi-year, multi-contract pay-to-play arrangement that siphoned millions of dollars from our schools.”<\/p>\n DEM LA COUNCILMAN TO STAND TRIAL ON FELONY CORRUPTION CHARGES, JUDGE RULES<\/a><\/p>\n Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in downtown LA. (Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n According to prosecutors, Peng played a role in awarding contracts tied to LAUSD\u2019s My Integrated Student Information System (MiSiS) between 2018 and 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n Authorities allege those contracts \u2014 totaling $22 million \u2014 were largely directed to Innive.<\/p>\n Investigators say Sampath then funneled more than $3 million back to Peng through intermediaries.<\/p>\n Prosecutors say messages between the two show discussions about deleting chats, securing contracts and moving money.<\/p>\n Peng, a Pasadena resident, was charged with felony counts<\/a> of money laundering and illegally holding a financial interest in government contracts.<\/p>\n LOS ANGELES HOSPICE FRAUD REACHES BILLIONS AS MEDICARE PROVIDERS SCAM FEDERAL SYSTEM WITH FAKE COMPANIES<\/a><\/p>\n Sampath, of Flower Mound, Texas, faces similar charges, along with an additional count of aiding and abetting a public official.<\/p>\n An arrest warrant has been issued for Peng, while Sampath faces extradition to California<\/a>. Court dates have not yet been set.<\/p>\n Peng resigned from LAUSD in late 2022 after investigators executed search warrants<\/a> at her home and workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n Authorities say Sampath and his company continue to hold government contracts in California and nationwide.<\/p>\n If convicted, both defendants could face up to seven years in county jail.<\/p>\n![\"FBI](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lausd-headquarters.jpg\")
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